Cities of Opportunity

Cities are complex, yet strikingly different. They are hubs of urban challenges and potentials. Cities of Opportunity, an annual report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), examines social and economic health of 30 of the leading world’s cities.It measures their performances against ten indicators. The study demonstrates that cities succeed if they perform well economically, but also if they satisfied a range of social characteristics, including good quality of life and wellbeing. PwC believes that lessons drawn from the report could apply broadly across different cities and as such, the report could serve as a practical guide for cities around the world.

Seventh Edition

In the seventh edition of Cities of Opportunitythe focus is on understanding urban patterns, predominantly based on data from 2014 and 2015. For the first time Amsterdam, Bogota, and Lagos appear in the study. The focus of the seventh edition is on three crucial urban issues:

the ability to resist disaster and remain resilient to risks

the ability to to offer effective public transport

the ability to have a tax system that works for all

Indicators

European Cities of Opportunity

Eight European cities have made it to the Cities of Opportunity report. The four top 10 cities are described below. Other cities are listed. For a detailed overview, check out the study (links are provided at the end of this article).

#1 London is at the top of the PwC ranking (based on data before the UK’s June 2016 decision to get out of the EU). The city is one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world, a global hub with a large, flexible economy and rich human capital. London performs poorly only with a cost indicator, where it ranks #26.

#4 Paris scores high following European financial pressure and dark intervals of manmade terror. Paris scores in top 10 in nine of 10 categories. Similarly to London, the sole indicator in which Paris gets a low score is cost.

#5 Amsterdam entered the study for the first time. Amsterdam, the second most at-risk city for natural disasters, is also one of the most prepared cities to deal with them.

#7 Stockholm tops in sustainability and the natural environment (tied with Sydney) category. Being a city with an easy commute and little congestion, Stockholm ranks third in transportation and infrastructure category

# 12 Berlin

# 16 Madrid

#18 Milan

#22 Moscow

Sources:

London ranks top in PwC Cities of Opportunity Index, followed by Singapore and Toronto Study assesses social and economic health of 30 leading cities, Press Release, 7 September 2016